Had organist Baby Face Willette stayed in New York and on track, Grant Green, Willette, and Ben Dixon would have become one of the premier organ trios in jazz. From the first note of "Miss Ann's Tempo," they establish a gr... more &raquooove, and swing like hell through two standards and four originals. This may have been Grant Green's debut album, but all three of these musicians share equal responsibility in this magnificent January 28, 1961 date, remastered by original recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder from the original analog masters.&laquo less

Synopsis

Album Description

Had organist Baby Face Willette stayed in New York and on track, Grant Green, Willette, and Ben Dixon would have become one of the premier organ trios in jazz. From the first note of "Miss Ann's Tempo," they establish a groove, and swing like hell through two standards and four originals. This may have been Grant Green's debut album, but all three of these musicians share equal responsibility in this magnificent January 28, 1961 date, remastered by original recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder from the original analog masters.

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CD Reviews

Grant Green's Second "First Stand"

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 05/23/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The RVG reissue of this Grant Green album is a bit of a head-scratcher since the first CD version of "First Stand" is still readily available. But who am I to question what Rudy wants to remaster? (It seems he wanted to polish up all the discs featuring organist "Baby Face" Willette.) Anyway on to the music, which originally constituted the guitarist's first Blue Note release, though we now know it wasn't his first session -- for that check out my review of First Session. A fairly typical organ combo date from the early 60s (1/28/61 to be precise), what makes this disc "stand" out in a crowded field are the three Green originals (and one from Willette) to go along with two lesser known standards. The sympathetic interplay between G.G. and B.F., along with the understated, relaxed style of drummer Ben Dixon, seals the deal. While not an absolute classic, "First Stand" is the first of many great Grant Green Blue Note albums."